Ian Danver Walking through the dimly lit basement, I grabbed another fresh basket of shallots and walked back upstairs to the door leading outside. Once outside, I squinted my eyes as the sun was just breaking the horizon. Placing the basket on the cart with the other peppers and onions, I began pushing it towards the market after covering it with a blanket. The creaking noise of the cart broke the otherwise calm morning. Birds were chirping in the clear sky as the few people that were already outside were beginning their day.
“Good morning Ms. Arce.” I greeted back. “What brings you up so early?”
“Well, you know how I enjoy a morning like this.” She expressed with a sense of calm as she closed her eyes and took in a breath of the dew-enriched air. “There sort of mornings just don’t come around very often anymore.”
With the cart motionless and my arms crossed over the handle, I nodded my head. “Couldn’t agree more.”
Turning and looking at my cart, she noticed my baskets of food peeking through the cloth. “What do you plan on trading them veggies for?”
“Bread, oats, and a couple of live chickens. Hopefully these four baskets will do the job.” I mentioned with slight uncertainty.
“Chickens. For eggs or meat?”
“Keri never liked eating chicken and my little sister could use a distraction these days.” Answering as I scratched my eyebrow.
“I’ve got a brown chicken you could have in exchange for some peppers.” Melissa offered.
“Can I see the chicken first?”
“But of course. Follow me.”
Walking across the road to her home, I came upon her chicken coop with several chickens clucking away, eating wheat and feed as the walked about or stared off to what ever grabbed their attention for a moment.
“Here’s the bird I was thinking of.” She gleefully said pointing to a large and healthy light-brown hen in a nest with a couple of eggs. “It’s a young one and lays plenty of eggs.”
“Sure, I’ll take it.” Agreeing to the deal as I looked at the hen. “Let me get a basket of some peppers over.”
“Alright, I’ll get a cage for you to carry her back home in.” She stated with a smile.
Walking back to the cart, I came across Aaron on a morning patrol.
“Trading already?” Aaron greeted with a smile as he walked over.
“That I am Aaron. You want some shallots for the rifle.” I joked with a smile
“If those shallots can take down a thief just as well, then sure.” Aaron sarcastically mentioned.
“Just throw it hard enough and it will do the trick.” I sarcastically mentioned back. “What been going on with you? Haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“Same to you.” Aaron’s tone turning worrisome.
My smile melted into a more serious frown as I realized what he has been referring to. “You know why Aaron.”
“I know and I believe you whole heartily. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. But this is putting a strain on everyone. Some think you’ve gone loose.” Aaron began explaining.
“What about Keri? Or Cassandra? They too want to know, but Keri sure as hell can’t roam around out there. Not with a partially shattered hip and younger sister that no longer has a mother.” I sternly remarked.
“Exactly Ian! What about them? You get your head blown off...”
I interrupted his response with a punch in the face. Aaron’s lip started to bleed as he put his hand to the cut to get a feel. With a pause, he looked away and grabbed a piece of cloth to wipe himself up.
“I think I deserved that one.”
“You’re damn right. It’s been less than three months and the blood on the floor is still hidden by a carpet square. Cassandra has had nightmares crying for our mother all summer. She gone nights without sleep even with my dad by her side.” I tearfully explained.
“We’ve all lost someone Ian.” Aaron reminded me as he put pressure on the fat lip I just gave him.
“Not like this.” I declared as my hands grasped the side of the wooden cart. “In attacks or in a gun battle, sure. But with my own mother shot in cold-blood while everyone else was defending the town at the same time. Then the townspeople spreading rumors that it was a fucking suicide.” I continued until my forehead laid upon the cart.
“Those rumors piss me off too. I hear it in the pub, the market, the field, and everywhere else. It’s sickens me every time that slander gets heard.” Aaron described as he walked closer to me. “But if you’re killed, how are your sisters and father going to deal with that loss?”
“I try not to think about it.” I quietly replied as I turned my head and gazed back at Aaron.
“I believe you Ian.” Melissa Arce calmly stated as she carried the caged hen in her arms. “Christine, your mother, was always strong-willed and I see that in you.”
“Thank you Ms. Arce. It means a lot.” I graciously said as I pulled out a basket of green and red peppers with an honest smile.
Handing the chicken to me she continued, “Your mother would never do such a thing and I know that her willpower is inside you, Keri, and Cassandra.”
Aaron merely nodded and smiled. “I’m just worried though. The raids lately have been getting worse and your best friend I’ve got.”
“I think this chicken will wear out your sister enough to get to fall asleep.” Melissa assured as she was handed the basket of peppers.
“When are you leaving again?” Aaron asked?
“I don’t know, maybe when someone else wants to join me or when some lead come to me.” I sighed as I covered the cart again and began to continue pushing the cart towards the market. “Sorry for the fat lip.”
“Again, don’t worry. I was talking like a jerk. I earned it. And if anyone at the station mentions about this cut, I’ll just blow it off. I’ve had worse.” He chucked as he patted my back as we both carried on.
Walking through the dimly lit basement, I grabbed another fresh basket of shallots and walked back upstairs to the door leading outside. Once outside, I squinted my eyes as the sun was just breaking the horizon. Placing the basket on the cart with the other peppers and onions, I began pushing it towards the market after covering it with a blanket. The creaking noise of the cart broke the otherwise calm morning. Birds were chirping in the clear sky as the few people that were already outside were beginning their day.
“Morning Ian.” Melissa said with a smile.
“Good morning Ms. Arce.” I greeted back. “What brings you up so early?”
“Well, you know how I enjoy a morning like this.” She expressed with a sense of calm as she closed her eyes and took in a breath of the dew-enriched air. “There sort of mornings just don’t come around very often anymore.”
With the cart motionless and my arms crossed over the handle, I nodded my head. “Couldn’t agree more.”
Turning and looking at my cart, she noticed my baskets of food peeking through the cloth. “What do you plan on trading them veggies for?”
“Bread, oats, and a couple of live chickens. Hopefully these four baskets will do the job.” I mentioned with slight uncertainty.
“Chickens. For eggs or meat?”
“Keri never liked eating chicken and my little sister could use a distraction these days.” Answering as I scratched my eyebrow.
“I’ve got a brown chicken you could have in exchange for some peppers.” Melissa offered.
“Can I see the chicken first?”
“But of course. Follow me.”
Walking across the road to her home, I came upon her chicken coop with several chickens clucking away, eating wheat and feed as the walked about or stared off to what ever grabbed their attention for a moment.
“Here’s the bird I was thinking of.” She gleefully said pointing to a large and healthy light-brown hen in a nest with a couple of eggs. “It’s a young one and lays plenty of eggs.”
“Sure, I’ll take it.” Agreeing to the deal as I looked at the hen. “Let me get a basket of some peppers over.”
“Alright, I’ll get a cage for you to carry her back home in.” She stated with a smile.
Walking back to the cart, I came across Aaron on a morning patrol.
“Trading already?” Aaron greeted with a smile as he walked over.
“That I am Aaron. You want some shallots for the rifle.” I joked with a smile
“If those shallots can take down a thief just as well, then sure.” Aaron sarcastically mentioned.
“Just throw it hard enough and it will do the trick.” I sarcastically mentioned back. “What been going on with you? Haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“Same to you.” Aaron’s tone turning worrisome.
My smile melted into a more serious frown as I realized what he has been referring to. “You know why Aaron.”
“I know and I believe you whole heartily. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. But this is putting a strain on everyone. Some think you’ve gone loose.” Aaron began explaining.
“What about Keri? Or Cassandra? They too want to know, but Keri sure as hell can’t roam around out there. Not with a partially shattered hip and younger sister that no longer has a mother.” I sternly remarked.
“Exactly Ian! What about them? You get your head blown off...”
I interrupted his response with a punch in the face. Aaron’s lip started to bleed as he put his hand to the cut to get a feel. With a pause, he looked away and grabbed a piece of cloth to wipe himself up.
“I think I deserved that one.”
“You’re damn right. It’s been less than three months and the blood on the floor is still hidden by a carpet square. Cassandra has had nightmares crying for our mother all summer. She gone nights without sleep even with my dad by her side.” I tearfully explained.
“We’ve all lost someone Ian.” Aaron reminded me as he put pressure on the fat lip I just gave him.
“Not like this.” I declared as my hands grasped the side of the wooden cart. “In attacks or in a gun battle, sure. But with my own mother shot in cold-blood while everyone else was defending the town at the same time. Then the townspeople spreading rumors that it was a fucking suicide.” I continued until my forehead laid upon the cart.
“Those rumors piss me off too. I hear it in the pub, the market, the field, and everywhere else. It’s sickens me every time that slander gets heard.” Aaron described as he walked closer to me. “But if you’re killed, how are your sisters and father going to deal with that loss?”
“I try not to think about it.” I quietly replied as I turned my head and gazed back at Aaron.
“I believe you Ian.” Melissa Arce calmly stated as she carried the caged hen in her arms. “Christine, your mother, was always strong-willed and I see that in you.”
“Thank you Ms. Arce. It means a lot.” I graciously said as I pulled out a basket of green and red peppers with an honest smile.
Handing the chicken to me she continued, “Your mother would never do such a thing and I know that her willpower is inside you, Keri, and Cassandra.”
Aaron merely nodded and smiled. “I’m just worried though. The raids lately have been getting worse and your best friend I’ve got.”
“I think this chicken will wear out your sister enough to get to fall asleep.” Melissa assured as she was handed the basket of peppers.
“When are you leaving again?” Aaron asked?
“I don’t know, maybe when someone else wants to join me or when some lead come to me.” I sighed as I covered the cart again and began to continue pushing the cart towards the market. “Sorry for the fat lip.”
“Again, don’t worry. I was talking like a jerk. I earned it. And if anyone at the station mentions about this cut, I’ll just blow it off. I’ve had worse.” He chucked as he patted my back as we both carried on.